# Determine Units

1. May 16, 2009

### MattRSK

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A quantity, d, depends on the angular frequency in the following manner:

d=ω C √(l/g) sin(ω K √(l/g))

Determine the units of C and K

2. Relevant equations
d=m
ω= sec-1
l=m
g=m/s2

I substituted this into the equation

m=s^(-1) C √(m/(m/s^2 )) sin(s^(-1) K √(m/(m/s^2 )) )

3. The attempt at a solution

I believe that when you take the sin of the brackets all the units in that bracket would have to become unit less. Therefore K would be a unit less constant?

And by cancellation C would have to be Meters for d to be meters?

Am i right in treating the equation as two separate parts?

2. May 16, 2009

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Well, let's see then. Inside the square root, (m/(m/s^2)= s^2 so taking the square root gives s and that is multiplied by s^(-1). Yes, K must be "unitless".

The the values outside the sin are the same, so if d is to be in m, c must be in m.

Yes, generally speaking, the argument of any function must be unitless and so can be treated separately. Looks like you have this completely right!

3. May 16, 2009

### MattRSK

Hey thanks very much for that!